Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

9 TV production went to new high of 124,345 for year to date during week ended March 26, up from 118,289 preceding week and comparing with 172,329 same 1953 week. It was highest figure since last Dec. 11. It was year's 12th week, brought total to 1,321,000 vs. 2,116,000 for comparable period last year. Radio production was 191,149 units week ended March 26, not much change from preceding Feb. -March weeks and comparing with 303,770 in same 1953 week. For the 12 weeks, radio output totaled 2,405,000 sets as against 3,532,000 same 1953 period. RETMA recap for first 2 months shows auto sets (726,403) by far the biggest item. Note : One big tubemaker this week warned that receiving tubes may go on allocation soon — with shortages likely in latter half of this quarter because of minimum recent purchases while inventories were being run down. Moreover, recent layoffs in tube plants mean they can't get back into full production overnight. Some types are already short, it was said, due to good current business in TV receivers generally throughout the industry. "Even the 17-in. sets use circuit tubes, "spokesman said. There's plenty of capacity for producing more 17-in. picture tubes. BETMA's PLAN TO HALT SPURIOUS RADIATION: The 5-year-old problem of TV & FM receiver interference finally looks as if it's really on way to solution. Convinced that FCC either has the power to impose onerous controls over the industry — or can get that power from Congress — RETMA has broached a voluntary all-industry plan which it feels confident will eventually mean the end of the vexing interference problem. What brought matters to a head was FCC's mounting impatience, expressed by Comr. Sterling in Toronto speech (for full text, see Special Report, Oct. 31, 1953) and by Chairman Hyde's wire showing serious concern over reversion to 21-mc IF by some manufacturers, notably Crosley (Vol. 10:8). Hope and expectation of RETMA leaders is that new plan will cause all set makers to build TV sets with 41.25-mc IF stages — upon which FCC's whole uhf allocation plan is predicated — and to bring spurious radiations down to levels which the Commission considers feasible and reasonable. Beyond these Immediate goals, aim is to reduce sweep radiation, minimize subcarrier problems in color sets — and eventually confine all unwanted transmissions, regardless of source, to insignifcant levels. Plan proffered by RETMA was submitted to all set makers this week; they were asked for "statement of intention" to adhere to it. Briefly, this is the idea; (1) Establishment of an independent certification laboratory empowered to test all TV and FM sets for conformance to standards acceptable to FCC. (2) Authorizing manufacturers to affix laboratory seal of approval to their sets if they meet those standards. (3) Informing FCC who meets standards and who doesn't. ^ an RETMA has no power to force compliance, of course, but implicit in plan is fact that those who comply can make the most of seal of approval in their ads and promotion, and that non-compliers would be exposed to whatever FCC might do. RETMA' s committee on spurious radiation admits frankly that five years have failed to produce adequate adherence to standards RETMA itself proposed to FCC. In letter to manufacturers, chairman Dr. W.R.G. Baker stated: "If the industry program fails to solve the problem, the FCC will be forced to find some more drastic procedure for its solution." And again: "Your committee is of the opinion that if the industry does not voluntarily abide by the [standards] and work effectively toward their improvement, then stricter standards will be forced upon the industry by the FCC." FCC has endorsed plan warmly, but at same time stating it regards ilrfitial interference standards to be temporary and expects continuous tightening. In TV, the specific standards provide for 41.25-mc IF and the following radiation limits, all measured at 100 ft. by IRE standards: 130 me or less, 50 uv/m ; 130-174 me, a linear interpolation between 50 uv/m